MOHAVE COUNTY — On 5-16-1987, a person rounding up steers around Bonelli Landing at Lake Mead found a human skull on the ground. A further search of the area resulted in the discovery of additional remains buried in a shallow grave, wrapped in a yellow blanket. The remains were those of a female thought to be between 20-40 years, 5’3”-5’7”, 105-120 pounds, with light brown hair. Attempts to identify her at that time were unsuccessful, but a forensic odontologist was able to complete an NCIC Unidentified Person Dental Report and enter it into NamUs. The Jane Doe was listed as NamUs UP9836 and assigned MCSO DR#87-1943.
In 2011, MCSO detectives were contacted by investigators in Austin, Texas, believing that Jane Doe was a missing person from their jurisdiction. A comparison conducted by NamUs with her dental records proved to be a negative match. MCSO detectives were then able to send bone remains to the University of North Texas (UNT) where a DNA profile was obtained and entered into CODIS and remaining extract was secured and stored for future examination.
In April 2024, investigators from the MCSO Special Investigations Unit (SIU), who were now assigned the case, contacted UNT to determine if the remaining extract was of sufficient quality and amount in which to conduct a Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) investigation. They were told the sample was too degraded for analysis of this type…